Kentucky's 2023 Spring Roster: Updated measurables

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kentucky football helmet stock photo — (Dr. Michael Huang | KSR)

Can you smell it? Can you feel it? That’s the 2023 football season coming down the chimney. We have hit a huge checkpoint in the offseason as spring roster time has arrived.

Following the announcements of one hiring and one promotion to Kentucky’s football staff, the good folks at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility have released an updated spring roster and the biggest development is that class of 2019 signee Taj Dodson is stepping away from football with two years of eligibility remaining.

The Cats currently have 84 scholarships accounted for with the transfer portal re-opening for two weeks in May. There is still some time for roster-building. For now, KSR is going to our first in-depth glance at the 2023 roster.

Updated weights

We have examined the roster and cross-checked from last year’s measurements. There are more than a few weight changes to Wildcats returning to the roster. Let’s take a look at some of the more notable changes.

Deone Walker: 6-6, 348 (+18 pounds)
Alex Afari: 6-2, 214 (+11 pounds)
Vito Tisdale: 6-1, 176 (-12 pounds)
Izayah Cummings: 6-3, 232 (-8 pounds)
Zion Childress: 6-0, 201 (+10 pounds)
Keaten Wade: 6-5, 250 (+13 pounds)
Tomiwa Duojaiye 6-4, 278 (+23 pounds)
Darrion Henry-Young: 6-4, 264 (+9 pounds)
Nikolas Hall: 6-6, 314 (+7 pounds)
David Wohlabaugh: 6-6, 321 (+19 pounds)
Eli Cox: 6-4, 311 (+14 pounds)
Brenden Bates: 6-5, 251 (-13 pounds)
Josaih Hayes: 6-3, 317 (+8 pounds)

— Deone Walker is a large man. The dancing bear was listed at what was likely a generous 330 pounds. In the spring, it will likely be important to monitor how he moves at this current weight. Kentucky’s pass rush plan will need the sophomore to carry a heavy load.

— Alex Afari Jr. played 266 defensive snaps for Kentucky last season often aligned in the box. The sophomore figures to be a strong candidate to play Sam linebacker as a medium player for Brad White’s defense this fall. Adding weight and strength should allow him to take on a larger role.

— Izayah Cummings fell out of the rotation with Rich Scangarello calling the plays. However, the hybrid tight end had a big role in 2021 with Liam Coen holding the call sheet. Cummings has shed some weight to hopefully become a factor as scheme versatile tight end that can be a consistent pass-catching option.

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— Texas State transfer Zion Childress had an impressive first year in Lexington. The senior could be in line to be an opening-day starter at strong safety. By adding 10 pounds he’s the biggest traditional safety on Kentucky’s roster.

— Kentucky enters the season with some depth questions at EDGE. Keaten Wade is emerging as the top option behind J.J. Weaver. The former blue-chip recruit has added 13 pounds likely making him the Jack linebacker of the future. That means playing some with his hands in the dirt. This is possibly a sign that Kentucky could spend a lot of time in subpackage defense asking to have more athleticism into the field at Sam linebacker.

–Adding weight in the offensive line room looks like a priority. Eli Cox, Nikolas Hall, and David Wohlabaugh Jr. could all be in starting position battles on the right side of the line. Each has added on pounds since the offseason.

— Barion Brown and Dane Key were not listed, but their weights are notable. Brown is still listed at 166 pounds and that is a bit of a surprise. The star receiver did struggle some with physicality against cornerbacks at the top of routes on vertical concepts. It seemed like adding some weight could be a priority. Meanwhile, Key lost six pounds dropping down to 188 lbs. entering the spring. Kentucky will have speed, but expect defenses to get aggressive with these receivers at the line of scrimmage.

Early enrollee and transfer measurements are in

We are still waiting on jersey numbers to be assigned, but we do have updated height and weight numbers on Kentucky’s seven transfers and six high school enrollees.